Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Suspended Over Leaked Call Drama

Thailand: Thailand’s politics turned upside down on Tuesday when the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen caused a massive stir. The 7-2 decision, pushed by 36 opposition senators, has led to angry protests, a broken coalition, and big questions about the Shinawatra family’s hold on power. At 38, Paetongtarn, Thailand’s youngest leader, is now fighting to save her job after being accused of betraying the country. 

A Phone Call That Started It All 

The trouble kicked off when a 17-minute private call between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former Prime Minister, got out. The call happened during talks about a border issue, and in it, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen “uncle” and took a jab at a top Thai military officer for “making things worse” with tough talk. She also said she’d “take care of” Hun Sen’s requests, which made people furious, saying she put Thailand’s pride at risk. The audio, which Hun Sen shared with Cambodian officials before it leaked, has been called a slap in Thailand’s face. 

On Monday night, Paetongtarn went on TV, saying she was sorry for the uproar but that she was just trying to keep things calm. “I spoke to stop a bigger fight,” she said, looking serious. But that didn’t calm anyone down. Opposition leaders and nationalists are calling for her to quit, saying she embarrassed the country.

Court Steps In Hard 

The Constitutional Court didn’t waste time. It took up a complaint from senators who said Paetongtarn broke rules about being an honest leader. With a 7-2 vote, they suspended her from being Prime Minister until they finish looking into it. She’s got 15 days to explain herself, but a final decision might take months. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also digging into the case, and if they find proof she did wrong, she could be kicked out of politics for good. 

For now, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is running things. Paetongtarn, who was recently made Culture Minister, isn’t backing down. “I’ll show I’m true to Thailand,” she said, ready for a tough legal fight.

Coalition Falls Apart, Protests Grow 

This mess has hit Paetongtarn’s government hard. The Bhumjaithai Party, a big part of her 10-party coalition, pulled out its 69 MPs, saying she insulted the military. That leaves her Pheu Thai Party with a shaky 255 seats in the 495-seat parliament, and people are already talking about a vote to kick her out. “The government’s barely holding on,” said political expert Thitinan Pongsudhirak. 

People are taking to the streets too. On June 28, thousands showed up at Victory Monument in Bangkok, led by the Yellow Shirts, who’ve never liked the Shinawatras. They waved Thai flags and held signs calling Paetongtarn a “traitor,” shouting for her to go. Social media’s buzzing with #PaetongtarnResign everywhere. “She’s let our country down!” yelled protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan, summing up the anger in Bangkok.

Shinawatra Family in Trouble 

Paetongtarn’s the latest Shinawatra to hit a rough patch. Her father, Thaksin, got pushed out in a 2006 coup, and her aunt, Yingluck, was thrown out by a court in 2014. Their Pheu Thai Party, which has been a big deal since 2001, is losing support fast. Thaksin’s in hot water too, facing a trial for supposedly insulting the monarchy after coming back from exile in 2023. A recent poll from the National Institute of Development Administration says Paetongtarn’s approval rating is down to 9.2%, a huge drop from 30.9% in March.

Thailand and Cambodia at Odds

This leaked call has made things worse with Cambodia, where there’s already bad blood over a border area called the Emerald Triangle. A fight on May 28 that killed a Cambodian soldier had already heated things up. When Hun Sen shared the call and then called out Thai military moves, it stopped all talks. Thailand’s tightened its borders and sent a formal complaint to Cambodia’s embassy. Paetongtarn says she’s done talking to Hun Sen privately because he broke her trust, but critics say her family’s too close to him.

Thailand’s in a Tough Spot 

The country’s got bigger problems piling up. Tourism’s down, and there’s talk of new U.S. tariffs hitting the economy hard. Paetongtarn promised higher wages, cannabis rules, and legal casinos, but none of that’s happened, and people are mad. The opposition People’s Party, which came from the old Move Forward Party, wants new elections to take advantage of the chaos.

Experts are worried about what’s next. “This could bring down the government,” said Napon Jatusripitak from the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. A military coup, which has happened before in Thailand, doesn’t seem likely right now, but the military’s staying quiet, and that’s got people nervous.

What’s Coming Next? 

The Constitutional Court’s final call will decide a lot. If they rule against Paetongtarn, her career could be over, and the Shinawatra family’s power could take another hit. With her coalition falling apart and people losing faith, Thailand’s in for a bumpy ride. Paetongtarn’s standing firm, saying, “I’m all in for Thailand.” But with protests getting louder and legal fights ahead, her words might not be enough to save her or her family’s legacy